Doctors operate during "Operation Smile" at a hospital in Manila's Makati financial district October 26, 2009. Unlike the "Operation Smile" patients in the photo, Shiryl Saturnino, a 29 year-old businesswoman and model, wasn't lucky enough to survive her multiple cosmetic surgeries at The Icon Clinic in Mandaluyong City. She died on March 26, 2017.
REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo

The Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Shiryl Saturnino said on Thursday that they would charge The Icon Clinic's medical personnel for obstruction of justice and reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. This is in connection with the 29-year-old businesswoman and model's death on Sunday, March 26. Read on to learn more about it.

"They are hiding something," The Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) reported SITG Shiryl Saturnino head Senior Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo as saying during a case conference at the Eastern Police District headquarters on Thursday. "They are delaying, concealing and suppressing the submission of documents necessary to the case."

Obstruction of justice, reckless imprudence resulting in homicide

Pedrozo said that they would charge Dr Yapjuangco, Dr Mendiola and the three other nurses that assisted in Saturnino's surgeries with violating the Medical Practice Act of 1959 or Republic Act 2332. They face charges of obstruction of justice as well as reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

Atty. Cordero said in a text message to the PDI that The Icon Clinic already submitted the documents that were asked from them. "SPO2 Emmanuel Ermino and SPO1 Jamar Saban, the Mandaluyong police investigators assigned to the case, received all documents pertinent to the operation on Mar 27, so did the uncle of the Shiryl Saturnino, Dante Anabe, on same date," Cordero explained.

"I have receipt to prove this," she added. Atty. Cordero said that once a formal complaint has been filed, the respondents' affidavits would also be provided.

Shiryl Saturnino cause of death: Fat embolism

While authorities said earlier that the autopsy results revealed Ms. Saturnino died of multiple organ failure, Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory histopathologist Dr Jane Munzon says that the victim's cause of death was fat embolism. Munzon explained at the case conference on Thursday that fat in the blood vessels entered her lungs and made it difficult for her to breathe properly. She added that fat embolism cannot be controlled.

"It’s beyond the control of surgeons," Munzon said. "But research shows when an emboli develops, trauma could be its number one cause. If [the operation is] traumatic, there’s more chance of fat embolism."

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